The Reason India's Aravalli Hills Have Become the Epicenter of Escalating Unrest.
Unrest has flared across northern India after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills – among the planet's most ancient geological formations spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory.
As per the revised criteria, accepted by the court following federal government suggestions, an Aravalli hill is any landform rising at least 100 metres (328 ft) from the surrounding terrain. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, along with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.
Conservationists contend that classifying Aravalli hills by height could leave numerous shorter, vegetation-clad but ecologically critical hills unprotected from mining and construction.
The federal government, however, says that the revised definition is designed to enhance oversight and establish consistency and not dilute safeguards.
What is Sparking the Demonstrations?
This weekend, peaceful protests occurred in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by community members, farmers, green activists, and, at times, lawyers and political parties.
A founder member of a key conservation collective commented that the new definition risks undermining the essential function of the Aravalli range in "halting desert expansion, replenishing aquifers and safeguarding local economies" in the northwestern region.
The lower, scrub-covered hills perform a crucial function in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and sustaining communities as per experts.
"The Aravalli range must not be categorized solely by elevation, but by its ecological, geological and climatic purpose," said an environmental activist associated with the movement to save the Aravallis.
He said that, globally, mountains and hill systems are identified by the roles they play, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.
"Any feature that is structurally a component of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in the ecosystem or combating desertification should be recognised as a component of the system, regardless of its height."
Protesters are calling for that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, encompassing topography, biodiversity, wildlife connectivity and climate resilience.
A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition could encourage mining, construction and commercial activity, increasing the threat of environmental harm.
Political opponents have stepped up criticism, warning that the new definition might lead to significant environmental degradation.
One political leader declared that protecting the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." A different official called the range the state's "lifeline," stating that without it, "the entire area up to Delhi would have become a desert."
The Government's Stance
India's federal government has attempted to minimize these apprehensions.
In a recent communication, it said the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity, noting that a clear, unambiguous definition was required to regulate mining consistently across states.
It further stated that the new definition covers the whole mountainous region – incorporating slopes, associated landforms, and connecting zones – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their linkages.
The federal environment ministry clarified it is wrong to assume that mining will be permitted on all landforms under 100 metres.
The government states areas within the Aravalli hills or ranges are not eligible for new mining leases, while existing ones can continue if they follow sustainable mining norms.
It noted that mining remains prohibited in core "protected" areas – protected forests, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – except for certain critical, strategic, and atomic minerals permitted by law.
The Environment Minister indicated only about two percent of the 147,000 sqkm Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after detailed studies and official approval.
Nevertheless, many of the protesting groups say that demonstrations will continue and that they are considering legal options to contest the court's new definition.